The Nyx Lion
The African Lion went extinct in the year 2108. Throughout the next 548 years, the African Lion turned into the Nyx Lion due to natural selection. The Nyx Lion received its name from the Greek Goddess Nyx, who was the Goddess of the night. Since the lion is dark like the night and is nocturnal, it has been given the name Nyx. The correct Latin name for the Nyx Lion is Panthera leo nox noctis, which literally translates in English to Leopard Lion Night.
The Nyx Lion’s Habitat
In the future the African Lion is extinct due to the overhunting done by the African people. However, before all of the lions went extinct, Greenpeace thought it was necessary to take action on the extended amounts of hunting and decided that it was best for the lions to be taken to a new place where they were no longer going to be attacked by humans. After long discussions, Greenpeace decided it was best for the lions to be taken to Greenland where there is a lot of land with a small population of only approximately 40,500 people.
Also in the future, the ice sheets of Greenland have almost melted with just a few tiny patches of ice found around the middle of the land mass. The ice has left the land still very cold with snow frequently. The Nyx’s future habitat is shared with the polar bears as shown in Figure 2 by the red dots.
The lions inhabit the landmass near the top right corner. This is due to the fact that the population distribution had stayed relatively the same since the present time. Figure 3 below shows the modern day population distribution.
Adaptations of the Nyx Lion Structural First Structural Adaptation:
In 2608 the Nyx Lion has lighter fur (refer to Figure 1) then compared to the modern African Lions. This is due to the fact that the Nyx Lion is adapting to its new habitat in the snow. The Nyx Lion has lighter fur because it needs to blend into its habitat to hide from predators and to be able to sneak up on its prey. Also it has gotten much longer fur so that it can keep warm in the cold and the snow.
The environment would not be facing any pressures due to the lightened colour or the longer fur of the lion.
Second Structural Adaptation:
In the Nyx’s habitat, it does not need such a big build, as their preys are no longer as large. In Greenland, there are very few trees that the lions can rest under. Although since the temperature is a lot cooler than in Africa, they no longer need to spend so many hours lying underneath the tree life. With fewer trees and smaller lions, the trees will not break as easily.
The smaller build has of the Nyx Lion makes it easier for it to fit into smaller spaces while trying to catch their prey. Because the lion weighs less, it makes it easier to manouver and hide.
Weighing less is a positive for the environment. Areas that will have these lions, will have less damage to their environment and less slaughters to their animals.
Behaviour First Behavioural Adaptation:
A pregnant lioness lasts about a period of 15 weeks before giving birth. When her waters break, she abruptly leaves and enters a more private area such as a cave, a hill or a marsh. Marshes will be very common in Greenland because the ice will melt and there will be plenty of mashes available. A lioness will usually leaves her cub/s in the marshes for a while before she will bring it back to her pride. The lioness will give birth to a cub in a standing position and when the cub is out, the lioness will bite at the umbilical cord until she can free herself and the cub. After the birth the lioness will also be responsible for cleaning the cubs from the body fluids.
Lionesses can be active sexually by the age of 2 years and most will have reproduced by the age of 4. Being pregnant will affect the lionesses hunting abilities for the pride during her 15 weeks of pregnancy.
Higher numbers of lions will cause problems environmentally, because the lions will continue to reproduce, particularly given they would not have a natural predator there will be a higher pressure on the environment to produce food for the newborn cub/s and larger numbers of adults.
Second Behavioural Adaptation:
Modern day African Lions are nocturnal as are the Nyx Lions. In an average week a lion will sleep for around 20 hours during the day and then come out at night and stalk their prey.
Being a night hunter with excellent vision the lions will get larger prey as when it is dark, it is harder for their prey to run away.
Lions in Greenland would not hunt much during the daytime (diurnal) as it would be harder to sneak up on its prey without the cover of night.
Physiological
As the Nyx Lions would be smaller, than previous lions, the Nyx Lion would have to hunt in their prides because they would have to work as a team to pull down the bigger prey. In Greenland, the lion’s diet consists of: rats, musk ox, rabbits, wolves and arctic fox. Sometimes, when they are alone, the Nyx Lion will eat weasels, lemmings and squirrels as they are not going to fight the lions. But these smaller animals are quicker and therefore harder to stalk and catch.
Being smaller helps the lions because they will be very much more swift and also will survive better in the cool Greenland environment.
Environmentally, it probably means that the lions will have to consume more small animals and plant life before they will be satisfied. This may cause a strain environment not used to satisfying this type of animal.
The African Lion went extinct in the year 2108. Throughout the next 548 years, the African Lion turned into the Nyx Lion due to natural selection. The Nyx Lion received its name from the Greek Goddess Nyx, who was the Goddess of the night. Since the lion is dark like the night and is nocturnal, it has been given the name Nyx. The correct Latin name for the Nyx Lion is Panthera leo nox noctis, which literally translates in English to Leopard Lion Night.
Figure 1) Annotated Nxy Lion
Source: (own annotation)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/African_Lion_Panthera_leo_Male_Pittsburgh_2800px.jpg
Scientific Classification of the Nyx Lion
The Nyx Lion’s Habitat
In the future the African Lion is extinct due to the overhunting done by the African people. However, before all of the lions went extinct, Greenpeace thought it was necessary to take action on the extended amounts of hunting and decided that it was best for the lions to be taken to a new place where they were no longer going to be attacked by humans. After long discussions, Greenpeace decided it was best for the lions to be taken to Greenland where there is a lot of land with a small population of only approximately 40,500 people.
Also in the future, the ice sheets of Greenland have almost melted with just a few tiny patches of ice found around the middle of the land mass. The ice has left the land still very cold with snow frequently. The Nyx’s future habitat is shared with the polar bears as shown in Figure 2 by the red dots.
The lions inhabit the landmass near the top right corner. This is due to the fact that the population distribution had stayed relatively the same since the present time. Figure 3 below shows the modern day population distribution.
Figure 2) The Nyx Lion’s Future Habitat
Source: (own annotations) http://ec.europa.eu/development/geographical/regionscountries/countries/country_profile.cfm?cid=gl&type=short&lng=en
Figure 3) The Population Distribution of Greenland in the Future
Source: http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/greenland_indigenous_population
Adaptations of the Nyx Lion
Structural
First Structural Adaptation:
In 2608 the Nyx Lion has lighter fur (refer to Figure 1) then compared to the modern African Lions. This is due to the fact that the Nyx Lion is adapting to its new habitat in the snow. The Nyx Lion has lighter fur because it needs to blend into its habitat to hide from predators and to be able to sneak up on its prey. Also it has gotten much longer fur so that it can keep warm in the cold and the snow.
The environment would not be facing any pressures due to the lightened colour or the longer fur of the lion.
Second Structural Adaptation:
In the Nyx’s habitat, it does not need such a big build, as their preys are no longer as large. In Greenland, there are very few trees that the lions can rest under. Although since the temperature is a lot cooler than in Africa, they no longer need to spend so many hours lying underneath the tree life. With fewer trees and smaller lions, the trees will not break as easily.
The smaller build has of the Nyx Lion makes it easier for it to fit into smaller spaces while trying to catch their prey. Because the lion weighs less, it makes it easier to manouver and hide.
Weighing less is a positive for the environment. Areas that will have these lions, will have less damage to their environment and less slaughters to their animals.
Behaviour
First Behavioural Adaptation:
A pregnant lioness lasts about a period of 15 weeks before giving birth. When her waters break, she abruptly leaves and enters a more private area such as a cave, a hill or a marsh. Marshes will be very common in Greenland because the ice will melt and there will be plenty of mashes available. A lioness will usually leaves her cub/s in the marshes for a while before she will bring it back to her pride. The lioness will give birth to a cub in a standing position and when the cub is out, the lioness will bite at the umbilical cord until she can free herself and the cub. After the birth the lioness will also be responsible for cleaning the cubs from the body fluids.
Lionesses can be active sexually by the age of 2 years and most will have reproduced by the age of 4. Being pregnant will affect the lionesses hunting abilities for the pride during her 15 weeks of pregnancy.
Higher numbers of lions will cause problems environmentally, because the lions will continue to reproduce, particularly given they would not have a natural predator there will be a higher pressure on the environment to produce food for the newborn cub/s and larger numbers of adults.
Second Behavioural Adaptation:
Modern day African Lions are nocturnal as are the Nyx Lions. In an average week a lion will sleep for around 20 hours during the day and then come out at night and stalk their prey.
Being a night hunter with excellent vision the lions will get larger prey as when it is dark, it is harder for their prey to run away.
Lions in Greenland would not hunt much during the daytime (diurnal) as it would be harder to sneak up on its prey without the cover of night.
Physiological
As the Nyx Lions would be smaller, than previous lions, the Nyx Lion would have to hunt in their prides because they would have to work as a team to pull down the bigger prey. In Greenland, the lion’s diet consists of: rats, musk ox, rabbits, wolves and arctic fox. Sometimes, when they are alone, the Nyx Lion will eat weasels, lemmings and squirrels as they are not going to fight the lions. But these smaller animals are quicker and therefore harder to stalk and catch.
Being smaller helps the lions because they will be very much more swift and also will survive better in the cool Greenland environment.
Environmentally, it probably means that the lions will have to consume more small animals and plant life before they will be satisfied. This may cause a strain environment not used to satisfying this type of animal.
Bibliography/References:
Unknown Author (2008). List of Greek Mythologyical Figures. Retrieved July 24, 2010 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Greek_mythological_figures
Dippel, T. D. (2010). The Forest Plantations. Retrieved July 24, 2010 from http://en.sl.life.ku.dk/faciliteter/groenlandsarboretet/skovplantninger.aspx
Unknown Author (2010). Population of Greenland. Retrieved July 24, 2010 from http://www.google.com/publicdata?ds=wb-wdi&met=sp_pop_totl&idim=country:GRL&dl=en&hl=en&q=population+of+greenland
Unknown Author (2000-2010). Lion Metabolism. Retrieved July 24, 2010 from http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=124830
Gugie, J. G. (1999-2010). How Do Lions Give Birth?. Retrieved July 26, 2010 from http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4567782_lions-give-birth.html
Unknown Author. Lion. Retrieved July 27, 2010 from http://www.honoluluzoo.org/lion.htm